It's actually difficult to fathom from where he's able to generate the level of intensity to become an absolute mauler on the field.

That split personality is on display every game as the 23-year-old transforms into the guy you don't want to meet in a dark alley, much less barreling at you through a hole in the line while you're clutching the football.

“Luke is one of the standards that we have on this team,” quarterback Cam Newton said. “He's low-maintenance, but brings to the table a hard-working guy that strives for excellence each and every time he's between the lines. He's a great role model not only for the first-team defense, but everybody that watches him.”

Role model is a term descriptive of Kuechly away from the game, one of the less-flashy and possibly more underappreciated young superstars in the league despite being named last year's Defensive Player of the Year one year after winning the same award for rookies.

The last player to pull that off in consecutive seasons was the 1981-82 double-dip by Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor, a wild man whose personality sits far on the other side of spectrum.

Kuechly has totaled a whopping 320 tackles in addition to six interceptions his first two seasons. He finished off last season with a team-high 15 tackles and one sack in an NFC Divisional Playoff loss to San Francisco.

The Panthers linebacker, now in his third season, is the undisputed second-favorite player on the team among fans, trailing only Newton, and some speculation regarding the release of all-time receiver Steve Smith centered on management's desire to turn the national reputation of the franchise over to Kuechly and Newton.

When asked if the additional notoriety has changed his life, even as he continues to remain under the radar in some respects, Kuechly replied, “I think it's been about the same. There's been a couple of other things I've had to do this offseason, but other than that, now it's football time and everything's the same. I just have to keep knowing what's going on, doing my responsibility and keep running around making plays.”

Kuechly won't provide much description of what his offseason was like, other than vague recounts of meeting cool people at cool locales while getting to spend some star-studded time in New York City during Super Bowl week, where he received his player of the year trophy.

Of course the crystal award remained boxed up for months after, back in his Cincinnati hometown at his parents' house. It's still there, but at least Kuechly admitted it's been removed from the wrapping.

As for getting the chance to increase his national profile through commercials and gaining access to hobnobbing with some of the sport's more recognizable names, Kuechly's enjoining some of the trappings, but he's not mesmerized by them.

“It's definitely fun. You get to go to a lot of cool places and get to meet a lot of people. I've met a couple of guys in different places and that's what's cool about the NFL and those opportunities. You get to meet a guy here or a guy there. But football is what I love doing and that's why I'm excited for this part of the year. Camp's back and the preseason games are right around the corner, so football is back and we're all excited for that.”

Coolest person Kuechly met and coolest place he got to visit?

“I think the Super Bowl and that whole week was really cool. You meet a whole bunch of guys. I don't really know if there was a coolest person I met, but that was a fun experience and hopefully we're there playing this year.”

Kueckly acknowledged increased endorsement opportunities have “popped up” but it's easy to spot the trend in the majority of his answers as he nearly always sways his responses back to football in some manner.

“That stuff was in the offseason and I had some good opportunities, but once football season's here, that's what I'm excited for. Its football that I get to do now.”

<p>Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly looks like the typical kid next door, with the mild-mannered and low-key personality to match. </p><p>It's actually difficult to fathom from where he's able to generate the level of intensity to become an absolute mauler on the field.</p><p>That split personality is on display every game as the 23-year-old transforms into the guy you don't want to meet in a dark alley, much less barreling at you through a hole in the line while you're clutching the football.</p><p>“Luke is one of the standards that we have on this team,” quarterback Cam Newton said. “He's low-maintenance, but brings to the table a hard-working guy that strives for excellence each and every time he's between the lines. He's a great role model not only for the first-team defense, but everybody that watches him.”</p><p>Role model is a term descriptive of Kuechly away from the game, one of the less-flashy and possibly more underappreciated young superstars in the league despite being named last year's Defensive Player of the Year one year after winning the same award for rookies. </p><p>The last player to pull that off in consecutive seasons was the 1981-82 double-dip by Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor, a wild man whose personality sits far on the other side of spectrum.</p><p>Kuechly has totaled a whopping 320 tackles in addition to six interceptions his first two seasons. He finished off last season with a team-high 15 tackles and one sack in an NFC Divisional Playoff loss to San Francisco.</p><p>The Panthers linebacker, now in his third season, is the undisputed second-favorite player on the team among fans, trailing only Newton, and some speculation regarding the release of all-time receiver Steve Smith centered on management's desire to turn the national reputation of the franchise over to Kuechly and Newton.</p><p>When asked if the additional notoriety has changed his life, even as he continues to remain under the radar in some respects, Kuechly replied, “I think it's been about the same. There's been a couple of other things I've had to do this offseason, but other than that, now it's football time and everything's the same. I just have to keep knowing what's going on, doing my responsibility and keep running around making plays.”</p><p>Kuechly won't provide much description of what his offseason was like, other than vague recounts of meeting cool people at cool locales while getting to spend some star-studded time in New York City during Super Bowl week, where he received his player of the year trophy. </p><p>Of course the crystal award remained boxed up for months after, back in his Cincinnati hometown at his parents' house. It's still there, but at least Kuechly admitted it's been removed from the wrapping.</p><p>As for getting the chance to increase his national profile through commercials and gaining access to hobnobbing with some of the sport's more recognizable names, Kuechly's enjoining some of the trappings, but he's not mesmerized by them.</p><p>“It's definitely fun. You get to go to a lot of cool places and get to meet a lot of people. I've met a couple of guys in different places and that's what's cool about the NFL and those opportunities. You get to meet a guy here or a guy there. But football is what I love doing and that's why I'm excited for this part of the year. Camp's back and the preseason games are right around the corner, so football is back and we're all excited for that.”</p><p>Coolest person Kuechly met and coolest place he got to visit?</p><p>“I think the Super Bowl and that whole week was really cool. You meet a whole bunch of guys. I don't really know if there was a coolest person I met, but that was a fun experience and hopefully we're there playing this year.”</p><p>Kueckly acknowledged increased endorsement opportunities have “popped up” but it's easy to spot the trend in the majority of his answers as he nearly always sways his responses back to football in some manner.</p><p>“That stuff was in the offseason and I had some good opportunities, but once football season's here, that's what I'm excited for. Its football that I get to do now.”</p>